Mayor Hart indicated the Resolution is phrased as a reappointment because Chairman Reed is interested and willing to continue to serve. The Mayor has found his service on the Planning Commission to be extremely valuable. Mayor Hart presented John Reed to fill the upcoming vacancy on the Planning Commission and opened the discussion to the Council. Council Member McDonald stated he appreciated Chairman Reed’s work but he has had several people come to him with interest and since the Council has not had the opportunity to review those other options, Council Member McDonald made the following Motion:
MOTION: moved to
SECOND:
VOTE: The motion carried.
| Council Member McDonald |
AYE |
| Council Member Roberts |
AYE |
| Council Member Densley |
AYE |
| Council Member Elwell |
NAY |
| Council Member Mendenhall |
NAY |
Mayor Hart opened the discussion for suggestions and reminded the Council that it is the Mayor’s place to bring a replacement appointment forward for the Council’s approval, which will not be done this evening. He indicated he will take recommendations from the Council and stated that he has had others that have expressed an interest to serve. He reminded the Council that he is committed to a Planning Commission that is apolitical. He believes the best thing for the City is to have a Planning Commission that does not have an agenda other than to implement the General Plan and the Vision Statement in the General Plan. The Planning Commission should consist of individuals who have planning backgrounds, who understand the processes and who have some specific background to contribute to that. The Council will see any nomination coming from Mayor Hart as long as he is the Mayor reflecting that point of view.
Council Member McDonald recommended that the bios be presented to the Mayor and Council for review before the next meeting of appointment. Mayor Hart preferred the bios be emailed to him and reinforced the fact that the appointment comes from the Mayor and then the Council has the opportunity to accept or reject the appointment. He will review the bios and come forward with a recommendation. Council Member Roberts requested that the Mayor email the Council Members the bios of those individuals the Mayor is considering for appointment before the next City Council meeting. Mayor Hart stated if he receives the bios he will pass along the bios of those who are being seriously considered.
Judy Gubler indicated Director of Finance Alan Rae has received a Certificate of Achievement for the CAFR (Comprehensive Annual Financial Report). The budget process begins with a Work Plan which the City Council Members will review tonight. A copy of the Budget Prioritization Work Plan is available by request through Ivins City Hall. The Department Heads were present with the exception of Chief Bob Flowers. Judy suggested the Council hold that part of the discussion until the next City Council meeting. She is looking for input on the items identified on the Budget Prioritization Work Plan.
The items requested in Parks & Recreation are: additional part-time seasonal hours employee and convert a part-timer to full-time; splash pad fence; disc golf course; new roundabout landscaping; pickleball court using the basketball court; sound system and shade structures for the splash pad, playground and bleachers. Council Member Roberts inquired if the bollard lighting on the Center Street trail system had been incorporated into the budget. Dave Glenn stated it was budgeted in Public Works for the current year but it hasn’t been installed. That item could be carried over to the next budget year. Council Member Mendenhall inquired as to the prioritization. Judy Gubler indicated the most important in Parks & Recreation is the additional staff request and a minimal amount of landscaping for the new roundabout. Council Member Elwell stated he prioritized according to what he thought was the most important. He agrees that the additional staff is a priority, the splash pad fence because that is a safety issue, the sound system and minimal landscaping for the roundabout with the possibility of involvement from the private sector. Dale Coulam indicated that as part of the Development Agreement for Desert Rose, the proposed park includes two (2) pickleball courts. Mayor Hart stated the shade structures are crucial. Council Member Mendenhall referred to the sound system and stated her husband works in that industry and she may be able to assist with locating a sound system. Council Member Densley referred to the shade structures and indicated he may have some contacts in Phoenix. Council Member Roberts agreed with Council Member Elwell on the prioritization with the exception of the shade structures. He thinks those are a priority over the new roundabout landscaping.
Judy Gubler referred to the items requested in Public Works which are: sewer cleaning truck; upsize a water line on 400 West; irrigation to UNITY Park from Highway 91; upsize pump stations; SCADA program to pump stations; detention basin; and road maintenance. She stated the sewer cleaning truck would most likely be financed. She is also going to meet with Santa Clara to discuss the possibility of cost sharing. There is a $190,000 in the budget and available to use on the projects. The approximate cost for the detention basin is $600,000 and there is $240,000 available in a bond but the remainder of the funds are not available for that project. Mayor Hart indicated he received an email from Senator Hatch’s office and there may be some funding options to assist with the detention basin. Council Member McDonald referred to irrigation to UNITY Park and inquired how quickly it would pay itself off versus how UNITY Park is currently being watered. Judy Gubler stated it would allow the City to take water from the main pipe line to service the park and would open up the option for the first subdivision to receive secondary water. UNITY Park currently uses 5-8 million gallons of water a month. Mayor Hart indicated it is important to begin activating a secondary water system. Dale Coulam stated that impact fees are collected and have to be spent within a certain amount of time otherwise the City has to refund the impact fees to the developer. It’s important that when the City has funds available and projects that qualify in the Capital Facilities Plan, to use those funds. The Mayor and City Council agreed the Public Works items are a priority and that the figure for road maintenance should remain in the budget. They would like the City to explore the possibility of cost sharing the sewer truck with Santa Clara City and look at funding options for the detention basin.
Judy Gubler referred to items in Administration and Human Resources, which are: COLA (Cost of Living Adjustment) and Health Benefits. She indicated that City staff has not had an increase of any kind in wage since August, 2008. She thought it was time for an increase in the last budget year and feels even more strongly about it this budget year. The City relies on the social security cost of living. In 2009 there was a 5.8% increase and in 2012 there was a 3.6% increase, which is reflective of cost of living throughout the country. Based on that, for an employee to stay even with what they were earning in 2008, it would require a 9.6% adjustment. Last year there was an increase in health benefit with the dollar amount put towards the health benefit, which is an increase for the employee that they can’t spend. She has spoken with the Department Heads and COLA adjustments are their number one priority and her number one priority. She requested that it be worked into the budget to stay even and retain the health benefit so that the employees will at least have the same health benefit and the same earning power that they had in 2008. It would not be instituted until August, 2012 with evaluations being in July and effective in August. During these years when things have been tight, everybody has cut back, everyone has done more and as a result the General Fund balance, which really is a surplus, has grown. The City is at the maximum that it can have by law in that fund balance. She feels very strongly that Ivins employees are the best and the City needs to retain them. Department Heads feel they have invested a lot and the City has competent and dedicated staff. Council Member Elwell and Council Member Mendenhall agreed. Council Member Roberts understood that the Governor is only allowing a 1% raise for State employees this year and no cost of living. He wants to see the employees get paid but he is concerned that when the City starts growing that the City will expand with employees again and until it is absolutely necessary he wants to see it as bare bones as the City can and pay them what they’re worth but thinks 9% is a lot. Judy Gubler stated that catch up is one of the risks of not doing it every year. Mayor Hart indicated it is certainly something that needs to be closely looked at in the final budget. Council Member Densley would like to see how the whole budget runs and indicated you must have happy employees. He would also like to see what the other cities are doing. Judy Gubler reminded the Mayor and Council that Ivins City held when the other cities didn’t. Alan Rae referred to a survey he received within the last few days about what other cities are doing for compensation. Washington City has not made a determination, Santa Clara is proposing both a 3% COLA (cost of living allowance) and a 3% merit increase. He has a list of approximately 40 of the cities and essentially all are making fairly large make-ups this year. In response to Council Member Roberts, last year State employees received a 3% increase and a 1% increase this year. He doesn’t know what it was the prior years. He will provide a copy of the survey to the City Council via email.
Judy Gubler referred to General items requested from the Mayor and City Council which are: bus transit to Ivins; business signage; power feasibility and a roundabout sculpture. The City is discussing with Santa Clara the option of sharing the bus transit and the cost identified on the Work Plan is a start up cost if it is shared with Santa Clara. Mayor Hart referred to the business signage and indicated the majority of the funding for the signs would come from the Ivins Tourism Council (ITC) and requested Judy Gubler contact the ITC regarding their intent on the business signage. He suggested the City may want to coordinate the bus transit with the opening of the Veterans facility. Mayor Hart referred to the roundabout sculpture for the new roundabout at Center Street and Tuacahn Drive. He stated that is a significant intersection in the City and his thought was that the City commit the savings from the solar power generation of approximately $10,000 a year for five (5) years to contribute to a sculpture. Council Member Elwell agreed and Council Member Mendenhall indicated that it is something that has to be looked at and likes the idea about the solar savings. Council Member McDonald agreed that something needs to be done in the roundabout but stated the reason behind the solar power generation was to save money therefore the City would be defeating the purpose. Council Member Roberts agreed and indicated he does not want to use public funds if possible. The Mayor and City Council agreed to move forward with the power feasibility.